Fire-protection suit.



" A. anonmsow.

FIRE PROTECTION SUIT.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

Patented Dc.23,1913.

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A. G. ROBINSON.

FIRE PROTECTION SUIT.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY9,'19,12,

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

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4 Hr/hzij W Al/omey A. G. ROBINSON. FIRE PROTECTION SUIT.

3 1 9 1 3 2 B m n m a P. P w m 1 9 Y A M D E L I P N m T A w L P P A m:2. H m m m .5 H 1 y m1 Z/ m 5 J M 0! a m m UNI STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

ARTHUR G-. ROBINSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE THIRTY-SECOND'10 CALVIN S. CROSSER AND ONE THIRTY-SECOND TO REGINALD F. PENTON, BOTHor nnsr AURORA, NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Protection Suits, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire protection suits of thatgeneral type which forms the subject matter of my co-' pendingapplication, Serial No. 578,198, and the invention is to be regarded asan improvement upon the construction shown in the application referredto. i

A suit of the type stated is made up of a number of sections to-behereafter identi-' ity, and wherein any disintegration of the]intermediate layer, which is preferably of magnesia or magnesiacompound, is positively prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suit of the characterstated which shall be relatively light and considerably lighter than theconstruction shown in my said copending application.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of theflexible joints between the sections, with regard to greater security ofconnection, greater simplicity of construction, and better fireresisting' quality or property.

A further-object of the invention is to provide an improved foot sectionin the nature of a shoe, and having a refractory sole and upper. i

An embodiment of the invention is illus trated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the suit complete; Fig. 2 is a sideelevationthereof; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, illustrating theconstruction of the sections and .the construction of the joint betweenadjacent sections; Fig. is a vertical sectional view,

Specification of Letters Patent.

per

FIRE-PROTECTION SUIT.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Application filed Hay 9, 1912. Serial No. 696,249.

illustratin the helmet or head section; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionalview, illustrating the coat or body'section; Fig. 6 is a detail view,looking at an edge face of a section and showing certain features whichform a part of the joint connection; Fig. 7 is a detail elevationalview, showing the construc- The sections are connected to form aproperly jointed suit by flexible waist, knee,

shoulder, elbow, and ankle joints, the waist I joint as 8, connectingthe body and the upnecting the upper and lower leg sections, theshoulder joint, as 10, connecting the body and the upper arm sections,the elbow joint, as 11, connecting the upper and fore arm sections, andthe ankle joint, as 12, connectin the lower le and foot sections. v

n the embo ment shown, the bodysec tion is made in four parts, and:these are connected by flexible joints, as 13, which extend.

fromthe lower to the upper end of the body section, as shownin Fig. 1,and are arranged at the back and at the sides thereof, as shown in Fig.5. Thejoints 13 of the body section arepreferably similar to the variousjoints, above referred to, between the several sections. j

As in the construction shown in my copending application, each sectionabove identified consists of an inner supporting layer 14, anintermediate insulating layer 15, preferably of magnesia or magnesiacompound, and an outer protective layer 16,

the presentcase, the construction of each leg sections, the knee joint,as 9, con

of refractory material, preferably mica. In

individual section difiers', however, substantially in respect todetails from the construction shown in my said copending application.The inner supporting laye'. It is in the nature of a relatively lightsheet steel shell, and is not directly attached to the intermediatelayer 15 o magnesia or magnesia compound, but at the same time,furnishes an ample supporting surface for the latter. The intermediatelayer 15 of magnesia is preferably built up, i. e. composed of blocks orsections of suitable outline and size, (see Fig. 7) and these are boundin place by copper retaining wires or rings 17. The sheet steel innerlayer 14 has the advantage of being relatively light, and at the sametime rlgid, and consequently, it can have no yielding action which candctrimentally affect the magnesia. The 'good condition of the magnesiais also preserved by the absence of any positive fastenings, such asbolts, screws, rivets, or the like for securing the same to the innerlayer. Further protection of the magnesia layer 15 is secured by the useof marginal blocks 18, which are arranged at the edges of each sectionand between which the sections of ma gnesia are confined. The marginalblocks 18 are of suitable fire resisting material, and are relativelysolid. The trade article known as G. and M. packing preferably forms thematerial of the blocks 18. The blocks 18 are not liable todisintegration, and are positively secured to the inner layer I 14, forinstance, by wire stitching 19 and serve notonly to confine the magnesiasections, but also as a means for the attachment of the flexible jointconnections. The outer protective layer 16, of mica, is, like theintermediate layer, likewise made in sections (see Figs. 3 and 7). Thesections of the layer 14 are arranged in shingle fashion, and areretained in position by relatively short fastening screws 20 whichengage in the magnesia sections and in the blocks 18,

' and which pass through retaining bands 21 which encircle each section.In addition to the retaining bands 21, vertical retaining strips 22 arealso employed, these strips 22 being likewise secured by the screws 20,and, together with the bands 21, coinciding with the edges of the micasections of the layer 16.

The flexible joint connections between the sections include a suitablenumber of superposed layers 23 of asbestos fabric. The layers 23 arearranged to form a hollow ring, (Figs. 1 and 3), their mutually adjacentedges being secured by stitching or otherwise, as at 24. The ring formedby the layers 23 is sufficiently flexible to enable perfect freedom ofmovement, and at the same time resists both the effects of heat andflame and the transmission of heat to the interior of the garment. Thelayers 23 are permanently associated with the sections which theyconnect by suitable fastening devices. Preferably these devices comprisebolts 25,

. the threaded portions of which project within the hollow ring formedby the layers, 23

and carry nuts 26, the shanks of which prov ject through the blocks 18,terminating at their inner ends in eyes throu h which a retaining Wire27 may be asse The layers 23 are held in roperre ation to preserve adead air cham er 28 internal to the rin which said layers define, by thenuts 26 and by U-shaped washers 29, surrounding the bolts 25 and held bysaid nuts to clamp the adjacent portions of the layers 23 against theblocks 18. The U-shaped outline of the Washers 29 serve to maintain thelayers 23 in the relation stated. The joints 13, between the respectiveparts of the coat sections 1, are also, by preference, of theconstruction just described. The joints 13 en-- able the coat sectionsto be readily fitted in the packing of the adjacent joints between theparts ofthe coat sections.

The only part of the suit which is dissociable in the head section orhelmet 6, and consequently, the joint 30 between the section 6 and thecoat section is not in the nature of a connection between thesesections,

as in the case of the other joints, but is rather in the nature of ayieldable 0r flexible packing. The joint 30 is, however, similar in themain to the joints above described, but differs in that the asbestosfabric layers do not form a hollow ring and are not continuous. In thecase of the joint 30, superposed asbestos fabric layers 23 areassociated with the head section or helmet 6, and similar layers 23 areassociated with the coat section the layers 23 and 23 being associatedwith the respective sections just as the layers 23 in theconstructionalready explained. The

layers 23, however, have loose marginal portions which overlie similarloose marginal portions of the layers 23", the. marginal portions ofsaid layers thus coacting to form a flexible and closed, though notconnected, joint.

The inner supporting layer 14 of the head or helmet section 6 is of domeshape and is rovided with head on aging straps 31.- p g provided at theThe section, as a whole, 1s front thereof with an opemn' in which isfitted an oval or rectangular ame 32, held in place by attachmentflanges that are riveted or otherwise secured to the inner layer 14. Theframe 32 accommodates micaplates 33, which serve as sights and of whicha suitable number may be employed. The plates 33 are held in spacedrelation by spacing r ings 34, and define dead air spaces 35 by whichthe transmission of heat to the interior of the helmet is prevented. Inthis connection it may be noted that the frame 32 is fitted within aframe 36, which serves the same purpose and is of the same malets, whichform no and are not illustrate These gauntlets are terial as the blocks18.

The foot sections 6 are shown in detail in Fig. 8, in each instancecomprising an ordinary shoe 37, havin a relatively wide welt to which isattache by bolts or otherwise, a plate 38 of thin sheet steel. The tread39 of each foot section consists of the material known to the trade asG. and M. packing, and which is arranged in the form of a coil on theunder side of the plate 38, being attached to said late, for instance, bbolt fastenings 40. he upper 41 of eac1 foot section consists ofsuperposed layers of asbestos fabric similar, except as to form, to thelayers 23. The upper 41 is joined both to the tread 39 and totheadjacent block 18 of. the corresponding leg section 3, bolt and nutfastenings and clips, similar to the parts 25, 26, and 29, abovereferred to, being employed for the purpose.

The adjacent parts of the coat section at the front thereof are securedtogether at their adjacent edges by fastenings 42, which are set intorecesses or cut away portions 43 of the mica and magnesia layers and areattached to the exposed portions of the layers 14, as shown in Fig. 5.One of the sections of the coat section is provided at its front edgeportion with a continuous packing strip 44, consisting of a number ofsuperposed layers of asbestos fabric which overlap the crevicesintervening between the front edge faces of said. sections and ispreferably transversely corrugated throughout its extent.

Any desired means for eliminating or disposing of foul matter in the airor of supplying fresh air may be employed. As such means forms no partof the tion, and is well known, it 1s unnecessary to illustrate thesame.

In addition to the parts herein shown and described, the suit iscompleted by gauntart of the invention referably of the type commonlyemployed E firemen, and in order that they may have a snug fit, the forearm sections are preferably of tapering contour, as shown.-

Any desired means may be employed whereby the user ma lower himselfmto'or raise h1mself from t e suit, for instance, a suitably locatedhorizontal bar may be provided. In getting into the suit, the lockableparts of the fastenings 42 are dissociated and the sections of thesection 1 are spread apart, the joints 13 acting, to a certain extent,as hin es for this purpose. In

s reading the sections apart, an upwardly arin opening of suita leextent is presente the dimensions of which are amply resentinvenprojecting into said ring,

ten into the suit in the manner indicated,

the sections of the coat section are drawn together and secured by thefastenings 42, after which the helme 1s laced in position.

The suit herein descrlbed is relatively light and very durable. Itaffords an absolute protection for the wearer against any degree of heatwhich may be encountered at a fire, and at the same time has sufiicientflexibility to enable the wearer to conveniently make such movements ofhis body, limbs, or head, as may be required.

Having fully described my invention, I claim: I

1. A fire' protection suit made up of a plurality of sections, eachsection comprising an inner supporting layer of relatively light sheetmeta and insulating and relayer.

2. fire protection suit made up of a plurality of I sections, eachsection comprising an inner supporting layer of relatively light sheetmetal, an intermediate layer of Y magnesia and an outer la. er of mica.

3. A fire protection su1t made up of a plurality of sections, .eachsection comprismg;1 an anner supporting layer of relatively 11g t sheetmetal, an intermediate layer of magnesia, wires to bind the m nesialayer upon the su(pporting layer, bloc s of packmg arrange between whichthe magnesia layer is confined, and an outer layer of mica.

at the edges of the section and 4. A fire protection suit comprising a aplurality of sections, each section consisting of an mner supportinglayer and outer layers of protective material and flexible -jointconnections between the sections, each joint connection comprisinglayers of fire resisting fabric,.fashio-ned to form a hollow ring andattached throughout its circumference to the adjacent marginal portionsof the sections which it connects.

5. A fire protection suit comprising a plurality of sections, eachsection consistmg of an inner supporting layer and outer layers ofprotective material, flexible joint connections between the sections,each joint connection comprising layers of fire resisting fabricfashioned to form a hollow ring and means for attaching said ring to thesections which it connects and com rising bolts securedin the marginalportions of said sections and having threaded shanks nuts on said shanksand V-shaped was is engaged by said nuts.

6. I11 a. fire protection suit, a foot section comprising a shoe, arelatively light sheet metal plate secured to the sole thereof, a treadlayer of fire proof and heat insulating material secured to said plate,and an upper of fire proof and heat insulating fabric also secured tosaid plate and inclosing said shoe.

7. In a fire protection suit, a foot section comprising a shoe, arelatively light sheet metal plate secured to the sole thereof, a treadlayer of fire proof and heat insulating material secured to said plate,and an upper of fire proof and heat insulatin fabllC also secured tosaid plate and inc osing said shoe, and a lower leg section to whichsaid upper 1s attached.

8, In a fire protection suit, a helmet com- I prising a relatively lightsheet metal layer, a layer of magnesia imposed thereon, a protectivelayer of mica inclosing the magnesia layer, the helmet having an openingat the front thereof, a frame composed of fire proof and heat insulatingpacking fitted 1n the opening to protect the magnesia, and a secondframe fitted in the packing frame and equipped with transparent sightplates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing

